(This is a partial listing of the many books available which include some discussion of Kundalini, or present a good introduction to yoga or spiritual awakening for those looking for education and ways to support their own Kundalini awakening.)

Adyashanti. (1992). The Impact of Awakening. Los Gatos, CA. Open Gate Sangha. (Excerpts from the inspired teachings of an awakened spiritual teacher from the Zen Buddhist tradition that discuss many of the issues that arise following an initial spiritual awakening.)

Adyashanti. (2006). Emptiness Dancing. Sounds True, Boulder, CO (A collection of dharma talks by Adyashanti, compiled and edited by Bonnie Greenwell, describing the major themes of his teachings.) Also see Falling into Grace and The End of Your World, by Adyashanti.

Caplan, Mariana. Halfway Up the Mountain: The Error of Premature Claims to Enlightenment. (An excellent compilation of teachings from several traditions warning of the delusion of enlightenment which follows intense spiritual experiences.)

Edwards, L. (1996). The Soul’s Journey: Guidance from the Goddess Within (Av. from Dr. Edwards at 45 Lake Shore Dr., Putnam Valley, NY 10579.) (A deeply personal account of visionary and awakening experiences, and his approach to establishing a relationship with the “divine presence”.)

Freke, T. & Gandy, P. (2002). Jesus and the Lost Goddess: The Secret Teachings of the Original Christians. (Fabulous book with incredible research about early Jewish and Christian Gnosticism, which is the best analogy I have ever seen that shows that Jewish and Christian mystical practices originally led to self-realization or enlightenment in the same way it is described in Hindu and Buddhist traditions. Nothing here about kundalini, but tremendous clarity about what it is to be self-realized, and how it happened that the Christian churches no longer recognize or support it.)

Goel, B.S. (1985). Third Eye and Kundalini. India: Third Eye Foundation. (Hard to find; a detailed autobiographical description of the awakening of an Indian intellectual who studied Freud and Marx. Shows clearly emotional problems, self-doubts, and other problems that can accompany awakening.)

Greenwell, Bonnie (1995). Energies of Transformation: A Guide to the Kundalini Process. Shakti River Press. Saratoga, CA. (A comprehensive overview of Eastern and Western views of Kundalini, including 23 case histories, descriptions of seven categories of symptoms, and guidelines for assisting someone in this process.) Out of Print but soon to be republished.

Greenwell, Bonnie (2006) The Kundalini Guide and The Awakening Guide, Shakti River Press, Ashland OR. Self-Help books with comprehensive guidance about these processes. Available on Amazon.

Grof, C. (1990). The Stormy Search for the Self. Los Angeles, CA. Tarcher. (Information similar to the above, but includes Christina’s personal experiences and information on addiction and spiritual emergence, and general guidelines for working with spiritual emergence.)

Harrigan, J. (2000). Kundalini Vidya: A Comprehensive System for Understanding and Guiding Spiritual Development. Available through Patanjali Kundalini Yoga Care. (www.kundalini-care.com (A detailed and complex description of the basics of Kundalini science as described in ancient Tamil scripture. Describes the causes for a Kundalini release, the kinds of rising, and methods for management. Dr. Harrigan also has a book service and imports many of the Indian books recommended on this list.)

Harris, B. and Bascom, L. (1990). Full Circle: The Near-death Experience and Beyond. New York: Simon & Shuster. (An enjoyable story of Harris’s personal story of NDE and the impact it had on her life, with a scientific commentary.)

Irving, Darrel (1995). Serpent of Fire: A Modern View of Kundalini. York Beach, ME: Weiser. (A basic discussion of the myth and reality of Kundalini awakening, including details of the author’s experiences, two interviews with Gopi Krishna, and comparisons of Kundalini with madness.)

Judith, A. (1996). Eastern Body Western Mind; Psychology and the Chakra System. Berkeley: Celestial Arts. (An extensive exploration of the chakra system as a seven-leveled philosophical model of the universe, and of chakras as the transmitters of life force energy. Offers a detailed description of the relationship of psychological forces to the chakras.)

Kalweit, H. (1988). Dreamtime & Inner Space: The World of the Shaman. Boston: Shambala. (If you think your Kundalini experience has echos of Shamanic experience this is an excellent overview of the inner world of the shaman, with several descriptions that sound much like Kundalini phenomena, and helpful perspectives on near-death, out-of-body and other altered state experiences.)

Keating, T. (2006) Open Mind, Open Heart, Bloomsbury Academic. (An excellent book for Christians on Centering Prayer, a meditative practice from he ancient Christian tradition, with clear discussion of the changing energies and consciousness that may accompany deep practice.)

Kason, Y. (1996). A Farther Shore: How Near-death and Other Extraordinary Experiences Can Change Ordinary Lives. San Francisco : Harper Collins (An excellent, thorough description of the Kundalini process, using the model proposed by Gopi Krishna, and expanded by Dr. Kason, who is a physician specializing in work with people who have had spiritual experiences. Many vignettes and stories of people in various spiritual processes with some emphasis on the awakening of spiritual, psychic and creative abilities.)

Kennett, J., and MacPhillamy, Rev. D. (1977). How to Grow a Lotus Blossom. Mt. Shasta, CA.: Shasta Abbey. (Describes Kennett's personal experiences during her third stage kensho, or spiritual awakening, with many visionary experiences. A radical book to be offered from a Zen Buddhist monk -- also see The Wild,Wild Goose, a book about her initial awakening experiences.)

Kennett, J. (1979). The Book of Life. Mt. Shasta, CA.: Shasta Abbey. (Describes theories regarding bodywork based on ancient Anma massage to help people with energies awakened due to meditation.)

Krishna, G. (1993 rev. by Leslie Shepherd). Living With Kundalini. Boston: Shambala. (His detailed autobiography, a version of Kundalini: The Evolutionary Energy in Man, updated and expanded, describing a wide range of difficult experiences and ultimate transformation with Kundalini, and providing much theory regarding the process.)

Lad, V. (1984). Ayurveda: The Science of Self-healing. New Mexico: Lotus. (Describes Indian medicine as taught for thousands of years in relationship to diet, food categories, exercises and constitutional aspects which balance the elements and the body to attune it physically, emotionally and spiritually.)

Lumiere-Wins, John and Lynn Marie. (2000). The Awakening West: Evidence of a Spreading Enlightenment. Clear Visions Publications, Oakland. (Interviews with 15 contemporary spiritual teachers, primary of the Advaita or Non-dual traditions, with insights into their personal stories and experiences of awakening.)

Malik, Arjan. (1991 & 1994). Kundalini and Meditation. Published by Ajay Kumar Jain, Manohar Publications, 2/6/ Ansari Rd. Daryaganj, New Delhi 110 002. ( A nice story of a classic awakening with a teacher in India.)

Maharshi, Sri Ramana. (1989).Talks With Sri Ramana Maharshi. Published by Venkataraman, Sri Ramansramam, Tiruvannamalai. (An excellent collection of talks given by a great modern Advaita teacher and sage of India, who is credited with bringing the teachings of non-dualism back into the forefront of India teachings. Many modern non-dual teachers have come from his lineage, and this book is one of several that give clear and understandable teachings on the nature of Self and Self-inquiry.)

Mookerjee, A. (1983). Kundalini, the Arousal of the Inner Energy. New York: Destiny. (Easy to read, skims a broad range of information on chakras, subtle energies, tantra and Kundalini.)

Motoyama, H. (1981). Theories of the Chakras: Bridge to Higher Consciousness. Wheaton, Ill.: Theosophical Publishing House. (Describes his personal experience with Kundalini, and relates specific changes to the movement of Kundalini through the chakras; suggests practices for opening each chakra.)

Moss, Richard (1986). The Black Butterfly. Berkeley, Ca. Celestial Arts. (A Western physician and healer describes his experiences of awakening and his work leading seminars.)

Muktananda, S. (1978). Play of Consciousness. Ganeshpuri, India: Gurudev Siddha Peeth. (Autobiography describing his experiences, and presenting clearly the significance of the guru in Indian spiritual practices, and many experiences of visions, energy and consciousness.)

Muktananda, S. (1979). Kundalini: The Secret of Life. South Fallsburg, N.Y.: SYDA Foundation. (Tiny book with supportive messages, and good descriptions of the positive aspects of Kundalini.)

Paulson. G. (1995). Kundalini and the Chakras: A Practical Manual. Llewellyn Pub. (A good introduction with an esoteric slant and emphasis on practices for the chakras from a woman with a Christian background, esoteric “New Age” language, and experience with people who have activated Kundalini energy in her training programs.)

Pradhan, V.G. (1969). Jnaneshwari: A Song-sermon on the Bhagavadgita (Vols. 1-2). London: Blackie and Son. (Inspiring poetic interpretation of the Gita, a classic Indian scripture. This is the only version of the Gita in which Kundalini is specifically described and discussed.)

Prasad, R. (1969). Nature's Finer Forces (rev. ed.). London: H.P.B. Press. (Complex and specific description of prana, the subtle body, the soul, and the science of breath as taught in Indian scriptures.)

Radha, S. (1978). Kundalini Yoga for the West. Boulder, CO.: Shambala. (Presents Radha's views of the chakras in great detail, with psychological issues and practices for transformation.)

Radha, S. (1981). Diary of a Woman's Search. Canada: Timeless. (Autobiography describing her spiritual experience in India, with emphasis on her psychological struggles and yoga practices.)

Radhakrishnan, S. and Moore, C. (1957). A Sourcebook in Indian Philosophy. Princeton, N. J.: Princeton University. (Good history of Indian thought and scripture without discussion of Kundalini.)

Ring, Kenneth (1992). The Omega Project: Near Death Experiences. UFO Encounters and Mind at Large. New York: William Morrow. (An outstanding scientific study of the presenting conditions and early childhood patterns of people who report NDE and UFO experiences and report some of the phenomena related to Kundalini awakening.)

Sannella, L. (1987). The Kundalini Experience. Lower Lake, CA. Integral Publishing. (Important book for Western therapists written by physician, comparing Kundalini with psychosis and speculating on the reasons for Kundalini awakening; describes many symptoms and case histories.)

Saraswati, S. (1984). Kundalini Tantra. Mungar: India: publ. by Sri G.K. Kejriwal at Bihar school of Yoga. (This is an excellent overview of the Kundalini tradition and philosophy, the experiences related to Kundalini and practices which awaken and nurture the process.)

Saraswati, S. (1967). (1982 most recent edition). Taming the Kundalini Published by Bihar School of Yoga, India. (Letters from the Swami to his students with lots of guidance about their Kundalini process and its relationship to other issues.)

Scott, M. (1983). Kundalini in the Physical World. London, Routledge & Kegan Paul. (Intellectual views of a scholar who has studied Tantra and Yoga extensively and describes Kundalini as an earth energy, relating it to the energy flows of the entire planet.)

Selby, John (1992). Kundalini Awakening: A Gentle Guide to Chakra Activation and Spiritual Growth. Bantam Books. (Has simple exercises and is a gentle guide, as it says it is. Selby is a well known therapist but this book is a very simplified approach to the experience.)

Some, Malidoma (1994). Of Water and Spirit. Penguin Books. (A remarkable story of a spiritual teacher trained in the African Shamanic tradition. Kidnapped in Africa, and taken to a Jesuit mission school, and raised for 15 years by Europeans, he then returned to his home and underwent Shamanic initiation. He is now a teacher in the S.F. bay area.)

St. Romain, P. (1991). Kundalini Energy and Christian Spirituality. New York: Crossroads. (A Christian perspective of the awakening process, told by the experiencer.)

Teasdale, W. (1999). The Mystic Heart: Discovering a Universal Spirituality in the World's Religions. New World Library, Novato. (A lovely synthesis of the issues related to spiritual awakening and mysticism and the “transforming presence of the divine in all traditions.”)

Venkatesananda, Swami. (1976). The Supreme Yoga: A New Translation of Yoga Vasistha (2 volumes). Divine Life Society, Himalyas, India. (This is a wonderful Advaita scripture from India for those ready and able to study the foundational Truths of Self-Realization. These teachings describe the non-dual perspective of creation, existence and the nature of Self and consciousness. Vasistha was a great ancient rishi and sage of India.)

Whitfield, B. Spiritual awakenings: Insights of the Near-death Experience and Other Doorways to the Soul. Deerfield Beach, Fl: Health Comm. (Tells a remarkable spiritual awakening story, and describes a range of awakening experiences including NDE, Kundalini, and psychic awakenings, along with hints on how to hold on through the power of these processes, and the need for unconditional love.)